The Age of Innocence was not on my reading list until Emily (my wife) recommended it after reading it for her book club. I didn't know what to expect The Age of Innocence was not on my reading list until Emily (my wife) recommended it after reading it for her book club. I didn't know what to expect and was a little apprehensive, but ended up really enjoying it.

Never have I read a book in which every word was relevant, forcing me into the habit of reading very carefully. I find most books lacking explanation in vital places and overflowing with unnecessary explanation in others. Edith Wharton's intelligent writing provided little fodder for either criticism. Her proverbial pottage was "just right."

I didn't expect to enjoy learning about late 19th century New York high society as much as I did. The characters were well rounded and I was able to identify remarkably well.

I can see why Emily's book club chose this novel. It provides lots of great open ended questions about society, relationships, and upbringing that are just as relevant today.

***Spoilers Follow***

I didn't expect The Age of Innocence to be so funny, as illustrated in this description of old Mrs. Manson Mingott: "The immense accretion of flesh which had descended on her in middle life like a flood of lava on a doomed city had changed her from a plump active little woman with a neatly-turned foot and ankle into something as vast and august as a natural phenomenon."

Another favorite quote is a good example of describing exactly what I've felt before: "He bent and laid his lips on her hands, which were cold and lifeless. She drew them away, and he turned to the door, found his coat and hat under the faint gaslight of the hall, and plunged out into the winter night bursting with the belated eloquence of the inarticulate.

Archer's entire life is defined by his society. His great struggle in life to break out of the mold. He starts to see outside his world, as at his wedding:

Archer wondered how many flaws Lefferts's keen eyes would discover in the ritual of his divinity; then he suddenly recalled that he too had once thought such questions important. The things that had filled his days seemed now like a nursery parody of life, or like the wrangles of medieval schoolmen over metaphysical terms that nobody had ever understood. A stormy discussion as the whether the wedding presents should be "shown" had darkened the last hours before the wedding; and it seemed inconceivable to Archer that grown-up people should work themselves into a state of agitation over such trifles, and that the matter should have been decided (in the negative) by Mrs. Welland's saying with indignant tears: "I should as soon turn the reporters loose in my house." Yet there was a time when Archer had had definite and rather aggressive opinions on all such problems, and when everything concerning the manners and customs of his little tribe had seemed to him fraught with worldwide significance. "And all the while, I suppose," he thought, "real people were living somewhere, and real things happening to them..."

But he can't, and never does, break free. This is the reason he can't go up and see Ellen at the end of the book.

I wish Archer had caught on that Ellen wanted to get a divorce so she would have the freedom "But my freedom-is that nothing?" to possibly marry him. That may have given him the motivation to break out of society, call of the engagement, and marry Ellen. That's the only tragedy I see.

He didn't do that. And when he married May, he should have committed himself to her and not given his heart to Ellen. "he built up within himself a kind of sanctuary in which she throned among his secret thoughts and longings." This is the essence of his infidelity.

Stormy Weather follows a family in Texas during the dust bowl. Paulette Jiles style is a little jarring at first, but I soon got used to it. It jumpsStormy Weather follows a family in Texas during the dust bowl. Paulette Jiles style is a little jarring at first, but I soon got used to it. It jumps from topic to topic mid-paragraph.

Life during that era was very difficult for a lot of people. It's hard to believe that that was only 70 years ago. Times have sure changed. We hear talk of "recession" now, and how hard life is. No way. We have it so well in America.

I couldn't decide whether the focus was supposed to be on the characters or the period. I didn't care a whole lot about the characters, but there wasn't a whole lot of background information about why the characters went through what they did. Three stars....more

Cynical and brutal. It's hard to like a book that puts down everything and everyone and has no "good" characters. Preachers are all hypocrites, parishCynical and brutal. It's hard to like a book that puts down everything and everyone and has no "good" characters. Preachers are all hypocrites, parishioners are all gullible and self centered. What of goodness and God and true religion? Does Lewis really believe these don't exist?

I'm sure a lot of the historical background is accurate; I enjoyed understanding more of revivalism, evangelism and life in the early 1900s.

A story of a Lithuanian girl taken from her home along with her family during WWII by the NKVD (Russian law enforcement) and sent to a Siberian work cA story of a Lithuanian girl taken from her home along with her family during WWII by the NKVD (Russian law enforcement) and sent to a Siberian work camp. The individual is fictitious, but the situation and events are true to life.

Very sad, moving and disturbing. Reminiscent of the Diary of Anne Frank, the Hiding Place, Man's Search for Meaning, or Unbroken.

Made me think how I would react/behave were I thrown into the position of either victim or soldier in such a situation.

We become so used to freedom that it is easy to take it as a given and don't appreciate it as we should.

The story of how a black woman's troubles in the 1930's drove her from a belief in the Christian God to an ambiguous belief in nature, and to lesbianiThe story of how a black woman's troubles in the 1930's drove her from a belief in the Christian God to an ambiguous belief in nature, and to lesbianism.

The prologue set the stage for Walker's bitterness towards Christianity, the South, whites and America, which bitterness, along with modern secularism, was woven into a supposedly historical narrative of the journey from oppression to freedom.

Contains lots of depravity and sexual content I would rather I hadn't read, with very little redeeming value.

Christian missionaries go to Africa and rather than convert anyone, lose their own faith in Christ and turn to worshipping nature, then come back to America supposedly enlightened.

Secular justifications for rejecting God and embracing the politically correct evils of the day....more

Very touching and realistic. There were a lot of unhappy endings in WWII, and Doerr's marvelous books stays true to that reality. At the same time, hoVery touching and realistic. There were a lot of unhappy endings in WWII, and Doerr's marvelous books stays true to that reality. At the same time, however, Doerr is able to show the rays of goodness and the path towards healing that is possible during and after the darkness. Adversity can destroy us or make us stronger. What makes the difference?

Not sure why this was marked Young Adult. Content was gritty and probably too much for my 13 year old daughter. Still, a sobering reminder of the evilNot sure why this was marked Young Adult. Content was gritty and probably too much for my 13 year old daughter. Still, a sobering reminder of the evils of WWII and war in general.

Compelling story of the part two women play in fighting Germany, one as a pilot the other as a spy.

The medium and manner of storytelling was a bit confusing - perhaps would have been better to read than listen to....more

A beautiful blending of history and fiction. I kept thinking, "this part couldn't happen" only to find out it wasn't fiction. Such different times andA beautiful blending of history and fiction. I kept thinking, "this part couldn't happen" only to find out it wasn't fiction. Such different times and yet people are still people.

Not having much interest in French impressionism, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I think I liked Robin Oliveira's writing more thNot having much interest in French impressionism, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I think I liked Robin Oliveira's writing more than the subject itself. However, I'm now very curious to know what really happened between Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas. I guess we'll never know.

I take issue with the pervasive theme that we are either "in love" with someone or not and that we don't have much or any control over that. Love is first a decision. Then it's an action. And finally a lifetime commitment.

I love my wife so much more now after 15 years of marriage than I ever did before we were married. I'm certainly not as twitterpated or "in love", but the love is deeper and more committed, underscored and enhanced by our shared experiences.

I once had an argument with a friend about how we fall in love. He argued that we can't help who we fall in love with. He conceded the point when I countered with the question of whether he could help falling in love with another man's wife. We choose when and how we open our heart to any relationship.

To Degas, art was his God. He didn't have time for anything else. I felt like much of the struggle of the book was trying to reconcile his love of art with the demands of life - money, relationships, family, etc.

There's no doubt he was very gifted, but I would argue that he could have been even better had he changed his priorities. Putting God first would only have enhanced his abilities. He then would have had more balance in his life, more happiness and time for love and a spouse.

I love this quote from Ezra Taft Benson: “When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives.”

A compelling story of a young woman moving from Ireland to work in Brooklyn in the 1950s.

I liked Toibin's ability to show the import that small thingsA compelling story of a young woman moving from Ireland to work in Brooklyn in the 1950s.

I liked Toibin's ability to show the import that small things can have. He was able to bring seemingly insignificant situations to life by pulling you in to how a character is experiencing them.

***Potential spoilers

Eilis makes some mistakes and does some things out of order, leading her down a path of deception that she struggles to maintain. In the end she owns up to it, however. Whether that decision turns out well for her is left up to the reader. I don't think that determination can be made by what we know. My take is that whether she regrets going back to America isn't up to the past but up to the future. She has every possibility of making a happy life for herself with Tony. She can also make her life miserable by regretting leaving. It's up to her, as it's up to all of us to decide our attitude about where life has led us.

What a great find! I loved learning about Mont Saint Michel. Uplifting, exciting and engaging. The characters were well rounded and the plot had realWhat a great find! I loved learning about Mont Saint Michel. Uplifting, exciting and engaging. The characters were well rounded and the plot had real bite in it.

I plan on reading the next installment and having my teenage daughter start reading them....more

Interesting look at the Cold War from the perspective of the CIA. I think it's fairly accurate historically; the few facts I checked (did that reallyInteresting look at the Cold War from the perspective of the CIA. I think it's fairly accurate historically; the few facts I checked (did that really happen?!?) turned out to be true.

What a rotten world espionage is. Lots of moral decay and filth on both sides. It was hard enough being immersed in it just while reading....more